Gideon Nimako

Gideon Nimako has worked closely with public institutions, international organizations, business enterprises and professionals in the area of digital innovations and data science for strategic decision making and implementation. He is currently the Head of Data Science and Digitalization for Development at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), spearheading the Data Science and Innovation Programme that leads the utilization of digital solutions and data science frameworks to orient the Strategic Plan of AUDA-NEPAD toward the implementation of Agenda 2063. The portfolio involves the design of evidence generation programmes and the application of continental frameworks (e.g. AU Digital Transformation Strategy, AU Data Policy Framework) for delivery continental initiatives on agriculture, infrastructure, trade, etc. His division works with all thematic directorates in AUDA-NEPAD and within the AU ecosystem to use digital solutions to improve programme design and delivery. Prior to joining AUDA-NEPAD in 2017, he was the Head of Data and Information Management at Wits Health Consortium, managing a team of data managers for the consortium. Dr. Nimako has worked for IBM South Africa as lead on Business Information Re-engineering and Accenture UK as Senior Data Systems Engineer. He has been a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Division of Biostatistics, where he led a Masters (MSc) programme in Health Data Analytics. This MSc. programme trains data scientists for Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems across Africa and some countries in Asia. He is currently an Honorary Associate Professor at the same University. He has also consulted for organizations such the SADC Secretariat, Anova Institute, DOH of South Africa, Swedish National Data Service (SND) etc., on policy framework issues related to strategic settings using digital and data solution. He holds a PhD in Data Science and Information Engineering, focusing on large data analytics models for decision making.